1. [n]  a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle; "he put the cup back in the saucer"; "the handle of the cup was missing"
2. [n]  a large metal vessel with two handles that is awarded as a trophy to the winner of a competition; "the school kept the cups is a special glass case"
3. [n]  the hole (or metal container in the hole) on a golf green; "he swore as the ball rimmed the cup and rolled away"; "put the flag back in the cup"
4. [n]  a punch served in a pitcher instead of a punch bowl
5. [n]  cup-shaped plant organ
6. [n]  a United States liquid unit equal to 8 fluid ounces
7. [n]  the quantity a cup will hold; "he drank a cup of coffee"; "he borrowed a cup of sugar"
8. [n]  any cup-shaped concavity; "bees filled the waxen cups with honey"; "he wore a jock strap with a metal cup"; "the cup of her bra"
9. [v]  treat by cupping
10. [v]  put into a cup
11. [v]  form into the shape of a cup; "She cupped her hands"

1. \Cup\ (k[u^]p), n. [AS. cuppe, LL. cuppa cup; cf. L. cupa
   tub, cask; cf. also Gr. ky`ph hut, Skr. k[=u]pa pit, hollow,
   OSlav. kupa cup. Cf. {Coop}, {Cupola}, {Cowl} a water vessel,
   and {Cob}, {Coif}, {Cop}.]
   1. A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin
      cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern
      times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a
      handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and
      the like.
   2. The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.
            Give me a cup of sack, boy.           --Shak.
   3. pl. Repeated potations; social or excessive indulgence in
      intoxicating drinks; revelry.
            Thence from cups to civil broils.     --Milton.
   4. That which is to be received or indured; that which is
      allotted to one; a portion.
            O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
            from me.                              --Matt. xxvi.
                                                  39.
   5. Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of
      a flower.
            The cowslip's golden cup no more I see. --Shenstone.
   6. (Med.) A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used
      to produce the vacuum in cupping.
   {Cup and ball}, a familiar toy of children, having a cup on
      the top of a piece of wood to which, a ball is attached by
      a cord; the ball, being thrown up, is to be caught in the
      cup; bilboquet. --Milman.
   {Cup and can}, familiar companions.
   {Dry cup}, {Wet cup} (Med.), a cup used for dry or wet
      cupping. See under {Cupping}.
   {To be in one's cups}, to be drunk.
   

2. \Cup\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cupped} (k[u^]pt); p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Cupping}.]
   1. To supply with cups of wine. [R.]
            Cup us, till the world go round.      --Shak.
   2. (Surg.) To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the
      operation of cupping. See {Cupping}.
   3. (Mech.) To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to
      cup the end of a screw.
   

a wine-cup (Gen. 40:11, 21), various forms of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments. All Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold (1 Kings 10: 21). The cups mentioned in the New Testament were made after Roman and Greek models, and were sometimes of gold (Rev. 17:4).

The art of divining by means of a cup was practiced in Egypt (Gen. 44:2-17), and in the East generally.

The "cup of salvation" (Ps. 116:13) is the cup of thanksgiving for the great salvation. The "cup of consolation" (Jer. 16:7) refers to the custom of friends sending viands and wine to console relatives in mourning (Prov. 31:6). In 1 Cor. 10:16, the "cup of blessing" is contrasted with the "cup of devils" (1 Cor. 10:21). The sacramental cup is the "cup of blessing," because of blessing pronounced over it (Matt. 26:27; Luke 22:17). The "portion of the cup" (Ps. 11:6; 16:5) denotes one's condition of life, prosperous or adverse. A "cup" is also a type of sensual allurement (Jer. 51:7; Prov. 23:31; Rev. 17:4). We read also of the "cup of astonishment," the "cup of trembling," and the "cup of God's wrath" (Ps. 75:8; Isa. 51:17; Jer. 25:15; Lam. 4:21; Ezek. 23:32; Rev. 16:19; comp. Matt. 26:39, 42; John 18:11). The cup is also the symbol of death (Matt. 16:28; Mark 9:1; Heb. 2:9).